FAYA

formerly Largeau, oasis town, northern Chad, north central Africa. It lies in the Sahara at the northern tip of the Bodele depression, 490 mi (790 km) northeast of the capital, N'Djamena. Originally called Faya, the town was renamed Largeau following the capture in 1913 of Borkou by the French army officer Col. tienne Largeau. The original name was restored in the 1970s. Date palm production in Faya was the focus of a development project in the 1970s. The town has an airport, as well as a small electric power plant. Pop. (1973 est.) 7,328.